Saturday, January 30, 2010

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Last November we hosted a benefit in Beaufort to raise funds and awareness for our adoption agency's Orphans Ticket Home campaign. At the time, I had no hesitation or angst about how it would turn out. We had never planned a fundraiser or really any event for that matter(not even our wedding as my mom was the ultimate wedding planner :) I just knew we were supposed to do it and I am so glad we did. The event raised $15K for the OTH campaign and more importantly I think the event helped to raise awareness in our small community about the orphan crisis that exists today.

Since we arrived home with our angel boy Silas, we have been talking and praying about our next step in this adoption journey. An idea will pop into my mind every now and then but now I seem to have a hesitation and uncertainty about whether or not we could actually pull it off. How can we continue to raise awareness and funds especially living in a new town where we are just establishing our roots?

Today I was talking to one of my dear friends about a cookbook idea that had popped in my mind on the way home from the gym and I finally got the feeling that maybe this idea is something we could do. Our next step may not be as successful in terms of $ raised but we can still make a difference and bring awareness. So then I hopped on my sister-in-law's blog (which is incredible by the way - check out www.kristiejackson.blogspot.com)and read her New Year's post which contained the following bible verse..."Are you so foolish?" Paul asks, "After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?" Galatians 3:3.

God has been with us throughout our entire adoption journey and it is He who will continue to help us during the next phase. We may not be able to pull off an event or fundraiser by ourselves but with God on our side I think I'm ready to start turning some of these ideas into a reality.

May 2010 be a year where we all find new ways to help the "least of these".

Olivia

Sydney

Silas

We are in the process of adopting a boy from Ethiopia!! We brought home Silas from Ethiopia in July 2009 and can't wait to travel back to his birth country to bring home our son. God has truly blessed our family!